Ski pole basket

ABSTRACT

A ski pole basket is formed to leave an imprint in the snow in the shape of a print. In embodiments, the ski pole basket has a profile of a selected animal footprint. In various embodiments, ski pole baskets disclosed herein may be used for recreation, ski instruction, finding party members while skiing, or other uses. Ski pole baskets may be secured to a typical ski pole by various means. Various types, shapes, and/or sizes of ski pole baskets may be attached and/or interchanged according to a user&#39;s personal preferences or specific uses.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to implements for snow skiingand related activities. In particular, the present disclosure relates tobaskets for ski poles.

2. Description of Related Art

Various types of skiing activities have incorporated the use of skipoles for hundreds and perhaps thousands of years. Among other things, askier may utilize ski poles for self-propulsion or for balance. Analpine skier may additionally use ski poles to time turns as the skiermoves downhill.

Most ski poles comprise a shaft, a grip at a top end of the shaft, and abasket at or near a bottom end of the shaft. The basket may typicallyfunction to prevent or inhibit the pole from sinking into snow beyond acertain point.

Commonly, use of a ski pole may involve the skier planting the pole intothe snow. In Nordic skiing, the skier may push off the ground with theplanted pole to propel the skier forward. In alpine skiing, a pole plantcan initiate a turn.

The size and/or shape of the ski pole basket may be selected for thecurrent snow conditions and for the type of skiing activity. Forexample, an alpine ski racer typically uses relatively small-diameter,conical ski pole baskets due to weight and aerodynamic considerations.An alpine or Nordic skier in deep snow may choose to use relativelylarger-diameter ski pole baskets because a basket having a greatersurface area may be less likely to sink down in snow than a smaller skipole basket.

Some ski poles are constructed to allow the skier to easily remove thepole basket and replace it with another basket that is more suitable tothe snow conditions. In some examples, a ski pole basket is attached toa pole by threading. A skier may remove the basket, and subsequentlyinstall another basket, by twisting the basket relative to the pole.Some ski pole baskets are secured to ski poles by a friction fit over atapered section of the ski pole as a type of collet. Other baskets arefastened to the ski pole with an adhesive. Yet other pole baskets may beattached to a ski pole by various combinations of the foregoing.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a ski pole basket is disclosed. The ski pole baskethas a disk and an attachment collar on the disk. The disk has a shape ofan animal footprint. The attachment collar is for attaching the ski polebasket to a ski pole.

In another embodiment, a method of skiing is disclosed. The methodincludes striking a ground surface with a ski pole basket having ananimal footprint shape, making an impression of the animal footprintshape into the ground surface, and lifting the ski pole basket from theground surface.

The present disclosure will now be described more fully with referenceto the accompanying drawings, which are intended to be read inconjunction with both this summary, the detailed description, and anypreferred or particular embodiments specifically discussed or otherwisedisclosed. This disclosure may, however, be embodied in many differentforms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments setforth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way ofillustration only so that this disclosure will be thorough, and fullyconvey the full scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in theart.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present disclosureare described with reference to the following figures, wherein likereference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various viewsunless otherwise specified.

FIG. 1 depicts ski poles having animal print ski pole baskets accordingto embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2A depicts a bottom view of an embodiment of the present disclosurecomprising a bobcat print profile;

FIG. 2B depicts a back view of an embodiment of the present disclosurecomprising a bobcat print profile;

FIG. 2C depicts a front view of an embodiment of the present disclosurecomprising a bobcat print profile;

FIG. 3A depicts a bottom view of an embodiment of the present disclosurecomprising a mountain lion print profile;

FIG. 3B depicts a back view of an embodiment of the present disclosurecomprising a mountain lion print profile;

FIG. 3C depicts a front view of an embodiment of the present disclosurecomprising a mountain lion print profile;

FIG. 4A depicts a bottom view of an embodiment of the present disclosurecomprising a mule deer print profile;

FIG. 4B depicts a back view of an embodiment of the present disclosurecomprising a mule deer print profile;

FIG. 4C depicts a front view of an embodiment of the present disclosurecomprising a mule deer print profile;

FIG. 5A depicts a bottom view of an embodiment of the present disclosurecomprising a goose print profile

FIG. 5B depicts a back view of an embodiment of the present disclosurecomprising a goose print profile; and

FIG. 5C depicts a front view of an embodiment of the present disclosurecomprising a goose print profile.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding componentsthroughout the several views of the drawings. Skilled artisans willappreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicityand clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example,the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggeratedrelative to other elements to help to improve understanding of variousembodiments of the present disclosure. Also, common but well-understoodelements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasibleembodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a lessobstructed view of these various embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, reference is made to exemplary embodimentsin which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments aredescribed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art topractice the concepts disclosed herein, and it is to be understood thatmodifications to the various disclosed embodiments may be made, andother embodiments may be utilized, without departing from the spirit andscope of the present disclosure. The following detailed description is,therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” “one example,” or “an example” means that a particularfeature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with theembodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment of thepresent disclosure. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in oneembodiment,” “in an embodiment,” “one example,” or “an example” invarious places throughout this specification are not necessarily allreferring to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the particularfeatures, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitablecombinations and/or sub-combinations in one or more embodiments orexamples.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure comprise a ski pole basketadapted to leave impressions in the snow that resemble various animalhoof prints, paw prints, footprints, and the like. According to variousembodiments, an impression of a footprint may include an outer profileof a footprint, inner features of a footprint, or combinations thereof.As used herein, the term “footprint” may refer to an impression formedin or on a surface that resembles a print made by a foot, a paw, a hoof,or other like appendages. As used herein, the term “footprint” mayfurther refer generally to the shape of a foot, a paw, a hoof, or otherlike appendages.

Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the present disclosure comprisesbasket 100. Basket 100 comprises disk 110 having collar 120 and outerperimeter 130. In embodiments, collar 120 is adapted to attach basket100 to a ski pole 150.

Referring now to FIGS. 2A-2C, outer perimeter 130 has a shape of abobcat paw print outer profile. Basket 100 further comprises downwardprotrusions 140 having shapes that match the profiles of the pads and/oradditional internal features of a bobcat paw print. In embodiments,protrusions 140 match the shapes of pads of a bobcat paw print.According to one embodiment, protrusions 140 extend downward from disk110 approximately one-eighth (⅛) of an inch. According to variousembodiments, downward protrusions 140 match the shape of digits, pads,or other like internal features of different species of paw prints, hoofprints, or foot prints. In other embodiments, protrusions comprise otherdepths according to a selected impression depth.

In embodiments, collar 120 is adapted to attach basket 100 to a ski pole150. In one embodiment, a friction fit is formed between collar 120 anda tapered section of a ski pole 150. In another embodiment, a threadedconnection is made when the basket 100 is twisted onto a ski pole 150,where corresponding threads are on the ski pole 150 and collar 120. Inanother embodiment, an adhesive secures basket 100 to a ski pole 150. Invarious embodiments, basket 100 may attach to a ski pole 150 via variousother attachment means as discussed herein, and/or as known in the artat the time of filing, and/or as developed after the time of filing. Insome embodiments, collar 120 is roughly at the center of disk 110,thereby roughly centering basket 100 around a ski pole 150. In otherembodiments, basket 100 is eccentric to the ski pole 150. In otherembodiments, collar 120 is located on disk 110 according to specificneeds and/or anticipated uses.

Referring now to FIGS. 3A-3C, one embodiment of the present disclosurecomprises a ski pole basket adapted to leave impressions in the snowthat resemble paw prints of a mountain lion.

Referring now to FIGS. 4A-4C, one embodiment of the present disclosurecomprises a ski pole basket adapted to leave impressions in the snowthat resemble hoof prints of a mule deer. For example, as depicted inFIGS. 4A-4C, in one embodiment of a ski pole basket, the collar isplaced approximately one-eighth of the total basket length from the backof the ski pole basket. Such collar placement may be preferred for across-country ski pole. Other various collar placements and arrangementsmay be selected for other embodiments according to particularcircumstances and anticipated uses of the ski pole basket.

Referring now to FIGS. 5A-5C, one embodiment of the present disclosurecomprises a ski pole basket adapted to leave impressions in the snowthat resemble footprints of a goose.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a ski pole basketmay be manufactured from various materials, including molded plastic,for example high density polyethylene, or other materials as discussedherein, and/or as known in the art at the time of filing, and/or asdeveloped after the time of filing.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, ski polebaskets may be manufactured in various sizes. Sizes may be correlated toapproximate the sizes of the various animals prints mimicked. Forexample, referring to FIGS. 3A-3C, a ski pole basket 100 having a shapeof a mountain lion footprint may have a diameter that is more suitableto be used by an adult and/or in relatively deep snow, where havinglarge ski pole baskets may be advantageous. Alternatively, referring toFIGS. 2A-2C, a ski pole basket 100 having the shape of a bobcatfootprint may have a diameter that is suitable for children or forskiing activities where smaller ski pole baskets may be advantageous.Alternatively, referring to FIGS. 4A-4C, a ski pole basket 100 havingthe shape of a mule deer footprint may have a diameter that is suitablefor skiing activities where a smaller ski pole basket may beadvantageous (for example, cross-country skiing).

Referring now to FIG. 2B, according to some embodiments of the presentdisclosure, disk 110 comprises a surface curvature as depicted,resulting in a downward-facing concave surface. The radius and/or sizeof the curvature of disk 110 may depend on the specific intended uses ofthe ski pole baskets 100.

In operation, a skier may use an animal print ski pole basket in thesame manner as a typical ski pole basket. As the skier carries out apole plant by penetrating the ski pole into snow, the ski pole basketmay leave an outline of the print in the snow.

According to embodiments, one potential use of a ski pole basket of thepresent disclosure includes using ski pole baskets having various animalprint shapes to track one or members of a group. For example, certainskiers may want to follow the path of another member of their party. Ifthose skiers knew that the member they were following had ski polebaskets that left distinctive impressions (for example, mountain lionprints) in the snow, they may be able to more easily follow the person'spath. In many circumstances, a person using ski pole baskets that createanimal prints may likely create unique and identifiable tracks.

In other embodiments, ski pole baskets of the present disclosure may beutilized as a teaching aid for children learning how to ski with poles.A child may find entertainment in creating animal print impressions inthe snow and/or following the print impressions created by an instructoror parent and may thus be more likely to participate in learningexercises.

Although the present disclosure is described in terms of certainpreferred embodiments, other embodiments will be apparent to those ofordinary skill in the art, given the benefit of this disclosure,including embodiments that do not provide all of the benefits andfeatures set forth herein, which are also within the scope of thisdisclosure. It is to be understood that other embodiments may beutilized, without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentdisclosure.

1. A ski pole basket comprising: a downward-facing concave surface,comprising at least one downward-facing protrusion forming a perimeteroutline of at least one respective print feature, wherein multiple printfeatures combine to depict a shape of an animal footprint and anattachment collar on the surface for attaching the ski pole basket to aski pole.
 2. The ski pole basket of claim 1, wherein the attachmentcollar comprises a threading.
 3. The ski pole basket of claim 1, whereinthe attachment collar comprises a collet.
 4. The ski pole basket ofclaim 1, wherein the attachment collar comprises a friction fitting. 5.The ski pole basket of claim 1, wherein the attachment collar comprisesan adhesive.
 6. The ski pole basket of claim 1, wherein the shape of theanimal footprint further comprises a downward protrusion forming aninternal footprint feature.
 7. The ski pole basket of claim 1, whereinthe shape of the animal footprint further comprises an outer profileforming a footprint profile.
 8. (canceled)
 9. A method of skiing,comprising: striking a ground surface with a ski pole basket, the skipole basket comprising: a downward-facing concave surface, comprising atleast one downward-facing protrusion forming a perimeter outline of atleast one respective print feature, wherein multiple print featurescombine to depict an animal footprint shape and an attachment collar onthe surface for attaching the ski pole basket to a ski pole; making animpression of the animal footprint shape into the ground surface; andlifting the ski pole basket from the ground surface.
 10. A ski polebasket comprising: a downward-facing concave surface, comprising atleast one downward-facing protrusion forming a perimeter outline of atleast one respective print feature, wherein multiple print featurescombine to depict a shape of an animal track and an attachment collar onthe surface for attaching the ski pole basket to a ski pole.
 11. The skipole basket of claim 10, wherein the animal track comprises a humanprint.
 12. The ski pole basket of claim 11, wherein the human printcomprises a human hand print.
 13. The ski pole basket of claim 10,wherein the animal track comprises a mule deer hoof print.
 14. The skipole basket of claim 10, wherein the animal track comprises a bobcat pawprint.
 15. The ski pole basket of claim 10, wherein the animal trackcomprises a mountain lion paw print.
 16. The ski pole basket of claim10, wherein the animal track comprises a goose footprint.
 17. The skipole basket of claim 10, further comprising a surface having an outerprofile of the animal footprint.
 18. The ski pole basket of claim 17,wherein the surface comprises a downward protrusion forming an internalfootprint feature.
 19. The ski pole basket of claim 18, wherein theinternal footprint feature comprises an animal paw print pad.
 20. Theski pole basket of claim 10, further comprising a collar.